5 games left to play and it is tight at the top. Schalke top on 59 then comes Werder Bremen, Stuttgart & Bayern Munich all 2 points behind each other. Bayern in danger of not qualifying for the Champions League

3 points seperate PSV, AZ & Ajax at the top of the league on 71, 69 & 69 points respectively

Bunch of nobodies scrapping it out at the bottom

Went to see Feyenoord play NEC Nijmegen this weekend, just got back. here's a detailed update of the situation over there.

The weekend coming sees the final set of League fixtures for the Dutch Eredivisie and with regards to the title race it promises to be, quite simply, the most exciting finish to a season in any major European League this campaign. The top of the table looks like this:

AZ Alkmaar travel to Excelsior (who they have beaten 5-0 already this season) and a win would all but guarantee the title. If AZ win then Ajax (who travel to Willem II, a side they have alreadt beaten 6-0 this season) have to win by a margin of 7 goals plus AZ's margin of victory. For PSV to realistically stand any chance of winning the title they have to hope both AZ and Ajax drop points, and also make sure that they win at home to Vitesse Arnhem (who they beat 4-0 earlier in the season). Of course, football throws up all series of surprises, but realistically it looks like AZ are about to seal the title. This would be all the more painful for PSV as they held a gap of 12 points at one stage of the season, and also conceded an 86th minute equaliser this weekend at Utrecht.

Holland has 2 Champions League places, and for the remaining place there is a system in place very similar to England's Promotion Playoffs. Positions 2 thru' 5 playoff, with the winner getting into the Champions League. Presently it is Ajax, PSV, FC Twente and Feyenoord occupying those positions. Only Feyenoord's position is under threat from Heerenveen. Whilst Feyenoord are considered one of the top 3 sides in the country, they've had a shocking season by their standards. they only have 53 points and a GD of -6. In a twist of fate, their last opponents are Heerenveen who are 6th on 52 points, but with a GD of +13 and the winners walk away with the prize of qualification for the final Champions League Playoff position.

The losers walk away with a UEFA Cup Playoff position, a competition which is contested between positions 6 thru' 9. Presently Heerenveen, Roda JC, FC Groningen and FC Utrecht occupy these positions. Both Roda JC and FC Groningen's positions are guaranteed. Only FC Utrecht's is under threat from NAC Breda. Utrecht travel to Groningen on the final day of the season, while NAC Breda travel to FC Twente. The winners of the Playoff enter the UEFA Cup.

The Dutch Relegation system is more complex than usual as well. The bottom placed team (18th) go down automatically, whilst positions 16 and 17 playoff against the 2nd thru 5th placed teams of the Eerste Divisie. Bottom place has been secured by Ado den Haag, and they will be replaced by De Graafschap who are Champions of the Eerste Divisie. 16th and 17th have been secured by Excelsior and RKC Waalwijk, and they will play off against FC Den Bosch, VVV Venlo, RBC Roosendaal, and one of either FC Volendam or Dordrecht '90.

Not too big a surprise, given that only two full-on Champions League spots go to Eredivisie clubs and some colossus (relatively speaking, this being Dutch club football and all) usually wins the Dutch Cup anyway.

What I do find surprising is that with 10 of the 18 Eredivisie clubs certain to end up in some form of playoff competition after Sunday (for a chance at Champions League berth, a last-chance UEFA Cup berth or the relegation mini-league), none of AZ, Ajax or PSV's opposition this coming Sunday --out of the 15 other clubs-- are really playing to get into or to avoid any situation of particular significance, nor are any of them trying to improve their table position for, say, purposes of home advantage in the playoffs (a minor possible exception to any of this being prize money for place of finish).

I thought it was 4 Champions League and 3 UEFA. It just so happens that the FA allocate 5th with one and the other two to the Cups, it's just that the FA Cup is considered more worthy of a UEFA spot for the finalist if they are not already in Europe.

With 6 games left, things are tight at the top in the race for 1st place and a place and a place in next season 1st qualifying round of the Champions League with 7 points seperating the top 4 teams. Current leaders are Rabotnicki, winners of the league in the previous two seasons, and are 2 points clear of Makedonija, who currently hold 2nd place, which results in qualification for the UEFA Cup Qualifying Round (with the Macedonian Cup winners also qualifying). Only three points behind them are Pobeda and two points behind them are Vardar, who slipped into 4th after a 1-0 defeat at home to Renova.

Meanwhile, at the bottom B. Stip and Vlazrimi are already relegated as they are 19 and 20 points respectively clear of safety and they are the two teams that will play in the Macedonian Second League next season.

TNS are top, 8 points infront of Rhyl, although Rhyl have a game in hand. Llanelli sit 3rd 6 points behind Rhyl and are level on points with Welshpool in the fight for an Intertoto Cup Place.

Meanwhile, Cwmbran Town sit bottom, 5 points behind Newtown, although they have a game in hand.

Not sure where you've got your info from, but seeing as its a 32 game season, TNS have won the league (they did so by beating Newi Cefn Druids 3-2 at the weekend). Rhyl are guaranteed 2nd and the final European place is between Llanelli & Welshpool (Llanelli are one point ahead of Town)

Cwmbran are relegated unless they win their last game, Airbus lose their last game and Airbus received a 5 or more point deducation at a hearing today regarding fielding an ineligble player.

Huntley & Palmer I thought it was 4 Champions League and 3 UEFA. It just so happens that the FA allocate 5th with one and the other two to the Cups, it's just that the FA Cup is considered more worthy of a UEFA spot for the finalist if they are not already in Europe.

TNS are top, 8 points infront of Rhyl, although Rhyl have a game in hand. Llanelli sit 3rd 6 points behind Rhyl and are level on points with Welshpool in the fight for an Intertoto Cup Place.

Meanwhile, Cwmbran Town sit bottom, 5 points behind Newtown, although they have a game in hand.

Not sure where you've got your info from, but seeing as its a 32 game season, TNS have won the league (they did so by beating Newi Cefn Druids 3-2 at the weekend). Rhyl are guaranteed 2nd and the final European place is between Llanelli & Welshpool (Llanelli are one point ahead of Town)

Cwmbran are relegated unless they win their last game, Airbus lose their last game and Airbus received a 5 or more point deducation at a hearing today regarding fielding an ineligble player.